Andrew McEwan
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Everything posted by Andrew McEwan
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Have you contacted whoever produced the report for a proper spec? They should include tonnage of material and position of bracing at a minimum.
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ts190
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solid, quality steel and welding on mine, if not too knackered I'd give it a go
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I think most large landowners will be making removal decisions based on TM costs, harvesting viability, estate grouping around buildings, and economy of scale etc when seeking costs, e.g. the 5 roadside trees will get felled when the woodland behind is.
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As another option for a tree you might otherwise rod brace, for a lo- ish static brace lately I've used aircraft grade steel cable looped round the stem, but with dead oak heartwood spacers/load spreaders positioned vertically, so there is minimal compression and disruption to the cambium, same idea as you'd use on a retained tree that was a winching point on a forestry job. Avoids big drilling for a rod and you can see the condition of the cable over time, oldest install is only three years old though but seems to be working well so far. And pre-load union first as Jake says with rachet straps, on bigger trees the Stein rcw3001 (or any winch bollard) has been brilliant instead of rachet straps at winching a union together just with a tied off rigging line and pulley.
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https://www.forestresearch.gov.uk/tools-and-resources/fthr/forestgales/ This is worth running through for your land/soil/exposure/species, have used it and seen it improve over the years.
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Ian Barnes is nearish to you, Tree Diagnostics
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Steinbauer boxes, marginally increase injector opening duration rather than increasing fuel rail pressure, used on big plant and tractors, worth looking into if they provide for your vehicle
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Tis the season to see Fungi, fa la la la la....
Andrew McEwan replied to David Humphries's topic in Fungi Pictures
The extra Ludwig nails/reflectors you can use with the Fakopp kit to increase resolution and the software sold it for me, as did having used their microsecond timer a lot with the same combined sensor/nail system that has stood up well so far, especially handy for climbing decay detection. -
Looking at all the tomography kit providers would be useful for you probably so you can compare systems, picus is far from the only option. Plenty of interesting kit available to supplement tomography in the static and wind load testing area which you'd find interesting. All of it is only useful as an aid to solid vta experience and a good amount of condition report work if you're just starting out. I'm kept busy with my tomograph kit from Fakopp and a microsecond timer, but wouldn't be without a resistograph to confirm or contradict tomography. You might find it a bit tricky to get to tag along as like a lot of things its hard to be productive and concentrate on the detail while instructing. CAS did some good demo days pre covid as do Sorbus and others.
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Consultancy Journey - Advice and Experience wanted
Andrew McEwan replied to rcbprk's topic in Training & education
Just grab some basic ppe if you don't have any already, boots, gloves, helmet and offer to help your local companies move brash etc, but keeping out of the way while you can pick up a bit on how a job goes, what was the spec, did it make sense to the team, was it even achievable within site constraints etc? -
Consultancy Journey - Advice and Experience wanted
Andrew McEwan replied to rcbprk's topic in Training & education
Ditto Paul's comment about time on the tools, (with the right crew) will help you and those using your reports a lot. -
Painful, hope it goes well both
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Boring answer...using same srt petzl rig setup as normal plus a 25m 11.5mm line with a spider jack ddrt, which self tends a bit too well to climb on (yes I know), but good for a fairly painless second system, and can easily control both with one hand on the way down and out, plus short lanyard.
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Shock absorber mbs reduction was covered on the AA bracing day back in 2016 by Kev Moore, and Rob Knott at Treeworker may have a paper on his research, but I only have my notes and conversations to go on, I'd speak to either of those two if you need more info.
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Seconded, and ask TW about the mbs reduction they found when destructive testing bracing with absorbers in, scary. If you have to use the rubber wobbly bits, preload the union, install when slack, then release preload, but really look into the elongation and reduced mbs first...........then ditch them and use without or try using yale, TW, gefa, or allgear flat braids, miles easier.
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Great Japanese photos Stere
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Hope he leaves you be then, if only it were all billable time with those folk!
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I might have got the wrong end of the stick with this particular customer, but I've not been asked for or offered a guarantee that bracing is anything other than reducing the risk, I don't think others do(?) either Mark. Or if a catch system it's just there in case for some peace of mind without altering loading etc.
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If you get no joy Mark it'd be worth having a chat to Rob (Nod) at treeworker, he can help you with a sensible spec remotely I imagine, how to preload (no not with stella) if needed, and usually has good stock of his own flat braid and slings bracing materials, which are easier and better than cobra imo, bit like gefa or the yale kit if you've seen that? He was also chatting about some 10ton dyneema cabling gear recently. Just add lots of caveats in your quote, and I've got the isa guide somewhere if you need it re rods etc.
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They look like they do good work don't they, have always liked their D1 and D2 pickup conversions
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Also liked having a load handler on my pickup, just get the one with metal brackets and fittings, plastic based one gave up.
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281 Steve?
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Marine epirbs have been allowed on land since ~2011 I think, that's what I use for lone working in no signal areas as didn't really get on with the SPOT system, although I know a lot of people like it. I have a mcmurdo fastfind (epirb), but it is a one time emergency signal device not for comms. I'm not well up on radio tech but I think anything they can reasonably carry won't be any use once out of line of sight, I have a small handheld vhf radio for when at sea but not legal on land as far as know.....but then if it's a one time emergency use only effort not chatting for about what's for dinner... I've used the Glympse app before and seems ok, it will allow you to follow a phones progress that has sent you a text link at the start of their walk, so at least you can see where a route goes into a mobile blackspot for a last known location. Be interesting to hear what others are using as not changed my set up for a few years now.
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It's been an interesting read, and nice to be reminded of my times in Sweden J, (and Devon!) All the summer lake swimming, lack of traffic, biking, skiing, straight timber everywhere in Sweden is ace, but I struggled a bit with the forestry sector there, and am hoping you have some solid contacts or a plan for breaking into it, and it is a great success for you, I turned up with just two saws, a climbing kit and mensuration gear so you sound in a much better position with the forwarder, there was lots of positive chat and a fair amount of work but not as much as I wanted, and I left with a strong feeling that (probably quite rightly) Swedish forest managers in my area would always opt for the local option, no matter qualifications, experience, hours put in at SFI! etc. Similar battles with the tax office and as you probably know full status (then, over 12 years ago) allows you to claim a lot of benefits, so not easy to get.
